Are you planning the overhang on the work side of the island? Or am I reading your plans wrong.

I was not planning an overhand on the work side of the island. The overhang would start at sink area and then go towards den. I want a large flat area for working. I just don't know if it would look to large and flat if I don't raise part of the island.

OK.. now I see it. I like the island shape and prefer a single height island, both for prep and looks. I do think you have a large barrier between the stove and frig though. If you need something from the frig while cooking; you'll have to hike around the island. Are you planning any under counter frig drawers or a small frig closer to the stove?

I much prefer a one-level island, and I don't think yours would look too big at all. I love a big expanse of work area like that.

I agree with remodelfla, though, about the fridge location. That would definitely be worth rethinking. Perhaps you could put the fridge over where you have the MW drawer and put the MW in the island instead. Put either more pantry space or a message center over where the fridge is in your current plan. That would leave you plenty of room to put a couple of stools at the wide part of the island. It looks like your plan calls for some at the skinny end, and there just isn't enough room there.

I don't see a picture....all I get is an empty page...

This is the link...

http://kellyphotos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=kitchen005&full=true

I am still learning about adding pictures ...

Ditto- it would bug me to have to go around the island to get to the fridge. Also, the fridge is very far from the possible new eating area.

Do you have tall ceilings? I like one tier if the ceilings are low.

>img src="http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/k/ke/kel/kell/kelly/kellyphotos/albums/album15/kitchen005.sized.jpg">href="http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/k/ke/kel/kell/kelly/kellyphotos/albums/album15/kitchen005.sized.jpg";

I can't seem to figure out how to add the picture here. If someone can help, thanks. I have read all the help on this site and I am obviously missing something. As for the frig, unfortunately, I have no where else to place it. The wall with the sink is all windows and I can't afford to give up any natural lighting. The wall with the range is not long enough for both range and frig. The end of the wall with range will open to a new room. Also, you will see directly from front door into the new open area. Currently you view a bathroom. This is one of the main reasons for the remodeling. I had thought about making two smaller islands but was advised against this. I could put a drawer frig unit in the island. I will continue to give the frig location some thought.

>ahref="http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/k/ke/kel/kell/kelly/kellyphotos/albums/album15/kitchen005.sized.jpg";

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

what if you switched the pantry cabs and the frig? At least you'd have a clear shot down the aisle to the refrigerator. Could the door swing toward the sink side?

Here is a layout of my first floor of my home. Hopefully this will help understanding some of my restrictions. Currently, the bathroom is between the kitchen and den. If you are at the front door looking in - the bathroom is what you see. I live in Williamsburg VA and this house was modeled after the Bracken House in Colonial Williamsburg. I have decided to update the layout from the Colonial times and make for one large area. The house is currently dark and I am trying to lighten the look. However, I have to stay with a traditional look.
If you click on the picture below, it takes you to a larger view. I haven't figured out how to make it large.
{{!gwi}}

can't see any pics.

If you eliminate the 12" cabs, on either side of the frig, move the range down a foot, put the MW in the island on the end, and then replace the frig on the end run where the MW was, you would still have 30" landing space with drawers on either side of the range. The frig would then be closer to the stove and on the end by the eating area where people could get a drink without coming into the work area of the kitchen. You could replace the 12" cabs with pullouts on the uppers for storage of oils, spices, etc. Also, if you do your uppers to the ceiling, you'll have plenty of room to put vertical storage in the uppers next to the stove or above the hood if you get the hood insert that goes into a cabinet. Hope that makes sense.

I debated the question of a one level or two level island for weeks. I had a very large island before demo that was one level. I thought I wanted two levels to have something different. My KD tried to talk me out of it. I decided to "make believe" for a weekend to see how I liked having two levels. I used stacks of the cookbooks that needed packing and a large sheet of plywood to make a second level on my island. After one day, I decided I hated it! I realized that I lost the big expanse of space that I was used to. Also, my island is the landing place for groceries, etc when coming in my back door. The second level was just too high, and didn't give me enough space to put things. Also, when I baked cookies, I couldn't line up all of my baking sheets.

I decided that one big level was better after all!

Remodelfla - I had thought about this however the area above the microwave is open to the other room (the microwave is on a short (2.5 ft peninsula). Also, I was trying not to have any large appliance being viewed from the front door.

Here is the picture I was trying to display previously.

{{!gwi}}

OOHHH.. short wall , no uppers. Sorry , didn't catch that from the layout. I see you switched that pantry and frig in this latest layout as mahlgold suggested. It works in that it'll be a straight run to get what you need and people can still access it without getting into your work space. Doesn't it feel great when you get it!!

I completely understand not wanting the refrigerator to be the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. That probably would've been the ideal location for me, but I just didn't want to see that big appliance and my kitchen is only 13 ft. wide, so I felt it would be right in my face when I first walked in. In alot of ways, my layout looks very similar to yours. Range on outside wall, clean up sink on side wall and prep sink in island. My frig/freezer/pantry area is also in a similar location as yours(further over to one side in a vestibule area), but again, my kitchen is only 13 ft. wide. Yours grows I guess to about 17' at the widest point(frig wall to range wall). You might want to put frig drawers in the island for your most used prep items. That would help the walking. I also like the frig location better in the plan you just posted. Like I said, direct shot down the aisle. I do have a concern about your proposed new eating area. That seems really far to me from the frig. Imagine trying to clean up condiments, drinks, etc. after dinner. I'd think I'd be using the DR on a daily basis instead.